Latest news with #HeadsOfState
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In 'Heads of State,' the special relationship is strictly situational
On its shiny, happy surface, the action comedy 'Heads of State' is so innocuously disposable that it barely merits attention, let alone critique. Anchored by two enormously appealing stars and unfailingly faithful to the strictures of the genre, this summertime programmer — scheduled just in time to divert filmgoers after they've seen 'F1' and before 'Superman' arrives in theaters — is the kind of cheerfully banal, easy lift that feels custom-made for airplane viewing: It might as well come with its own tray table in the open, unlocked position. (Then again, it's available only on Amazon, so … same thing?) John Cena plays U.S. President Will Derringer, a square-jawed, Schwarzenegger-esque former movie star whose biggest role — until the White House, at least — was in a franchise called 'Water Cobra.' Idris Elba plays Sam Clarke, a saturnine British prime minister who very much did not support Derringer's election; the two are headed to a NATO meeting in Trieste when they get word that a joint CIA-MI6 operation has gone awry, with the British agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) having gone missing after the decimation of her team. Soon enough, Derringer and Clarke are joining forces in a globe-trotting mission to save Western democracy and their own skins; this is not a special relationship but a situational one, with Clarke's cool English reserve continually butting up against Derringer's can-do naivete. Directed by Ilya Naishuller from a script by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Harrison Query, 'Heads of State' does a nimble job of going through the rote motions: As Derringer and Clarke bond on a road trip that takes them from London to Belarus to Poland and beyond, their bromance is metronomically punctuated by increasingly preposterous seisms of violence; standout scenes include a hair-raising stunt set aboard Air Force One (Harrison Ford, eat your heart out), as well as a pyrotechnical car chase involving the Beast, the bulletproof, heavily armored presidential state car. Real-world adjacencies abound in 'Heads of State,' which centers on a plot to destroy NATO — just days after a NATO summit that was notable for its leaders' obeisance to the current U.S. president, himself a former reality TV star (and, at one point, an outspoken NATO critic). But don't mistake 'Heads of State' for a political satire a la 'Mountainhead,' another small-screen feature that in another era would have played in theaters. The filmmakers here aren't interested in polemic as much as alternating between cartoonish savagery and disarming sentimentalism. Like Cena's fictional president, that combination is quintessentially American, given a congenial sheen with lots of jokes and we're-just-having-fun-here japes, never mind that the guns, grenades, rocket launchers and high-tech crossbows result in fiery carnage and an unholy body count, with nary an unseemly consequence. That's just the kind of PG-13-friendly hypocrisy that is baked into a form of entertainment that Derringer insists on calling 'cinema' (part of the fun of the movie is watching Cena's super-jacked doofus name-check Wes Anderson and Bong Joon Ho). Carping about the promiscuous violence in 'Heads of State' and its ilk is just the kind of scolding that makes Clarke's character such a dreary old stick — a role that Elba leans into with handsome relish. He and Cena — whose self-aware humor is on high alert throughout — develop an easygoing chemistry, and they receive ample support from Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino and Sarah Niles, the last of whom is a bright spot in 'F1.' As a blithely likable blunt instrument, 'Heads of State' gets the job done, justifying its anesthetized mayhem with a sweet-natured message about the importance of friendship, international alliances and institutional continuity. Lessons in filial loyalty by way of fireballs and fusillades: President Derringer might call it cinema, but everybody else knows it's only a movie. PG-13. Available on Amazon Prime. Contains sequences of strong violence/action, language and some smoking. 113 minutes.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
John Cena's action comedy ‘Heads of State' premieres on Amazon Prime Video - Here's how fans are reacting
(Image via X) WWE legend John Cena 's much-awaited action comedy, Heads of State, premiered today on Amazon Prime Video, and fans could not keep calm as they are already flooding social media with reactions. Heads of State revolves around the two heads of state, who must put their competition on hold to counter a worldwide conspiracy after being targeted by a merciless external enemy. The movie stars John Cena, and his co-star Priyanka Chopra , and Idris Elba in prime roles. Earlier today, John Cena was seen in a promotional event alongside his co-star, Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, in London for his film. In the movie, John plays the character of U.S. President Will Derringer, alongside Idris Elba as the no‑nonsense British Prime Minister Sam Clarke and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as MI6 agent Noel Bisset. Now, let's take a look at how the fans reacted to Cena's film. Fans react to John Cena's new movie, 'Heads of State' Following its release, the film 'Heads of State' has received mixed reviews from critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 19 critics' reviews are positive. Meanwhile, Metacritic's review aggregator assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invertir $250 en Mercado Libre CFD podría devolverte un segundo salario Capital Markets Undo However, fans have started pouring their reaction after watching the film. Several fans took to their X/Twitter accounts to share their views and responses related to the action-comedy. A fan wrote, #HeadsOfState is everything I thought it would be, a fun ride. Priyanka Chopra is here to stay & even rule Hollywood. A bona fide action star. John Cena & Idris Elba were amazing.' While another fan commented, 'Heads of State was hugely entertaining. The comedy was a bit touch-and-go, but the action was high-octane explosive. John Cena and Idris Elba bounced off each other really well. And Priyanka once again proved that she got this whole badass female thing on lock.' Meanwhile, John Cena also shared a response from the premiere of the movie held in New York City, USA. The wrestler cum actor wrote, 'Absolute blast at the #HeadsOfState premiere in NYC. So grateful for our director, the incredible cast and crew from around the globe who made this all come to life. You can see Heads of State when it comes to @PrimeVideo on July 2!!!' On the other hand, Metacritic wrote, 'Torn between action & comedy, irony and sentiment, and rah-rah jingoism and genuine self-reflection, Heads of State is a surprisingly entertaining romp.' What's next for John Cena? Following Heads of State, John Cena is currently gearing up for his upcoming film, Matchbox and Coyote vs. Acme, as Buddy Crane. Both films are expecting to get released in 2026, the following year after Cena's retirement from WWE. Also Read : WWE's John Cena spotted with Indian actor Priyanka Chopra during 'Heads of State' promotions Meanwhile, WWE has announced that the current Undisputed WWE Champion, John Cena, will appear on the SmackDown episode airing on July 18th. This episode will emanate live from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, in anticipation of next month's SummerSlam premium live event. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Mint
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Heads of State X reviews: Internet is loving Priyanka Chopra-John Cena's movie, calls it ‘ridiculously FUN'
Heads of State X reviews: The Internet is loving Priyanka Chopra-John Cena's latest movie on Amazon Prime Video, and said that the high-octane buddy comedy is 'ridiculously FUN'. In Heads of State, released on July 2, when Air Force One gets shot down over enemy territory, the UK Prime Minister and the US President find themselves on the run and under the protection of MI6 Agent Noel Bisset, portrayed by Priyanka. Together, the star-studded trio race against time to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world. 'Heads of State is chaotic and fun. Idris Elba and John Cena are a blast duo, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas holds her own. Slick action and banter land well, but the plot's paper-thin and tone's all over. Style over substance, but it works for me,' said a social media user. Another user said, 'Heads of State was hugely entertaining.' 'The comedy was a bit touch-and-go, but the action was high-octane explosive. John Cena and Idris Elba bounced off each other really well. And Priyanka once again proved that she got this whole badass female thing on lock,' added the user. 'Heads Of State is everything I thought it would be, a fun ride. Priyanka Chopra is here to stay and even rule Hollywood. A bona fide action star. John Cena and Idris Elba were amazing. Looking forward to Punny Noel Bisset & Nutter Marty Comer's adventures if there'll be next part,' a netizen said. Another added: 'Heads Of State is a HIGH-OCTANE buddy comedy that flies fast and HITS HARD. Cena and Elba's chemistry is EXPLOSIVE, Priyanka is the UNDENIABLE action star, and director Ilya Naishuller brings his signature CHAOS in all the right ways. It's BIG, LOUD, and a ridiculously FUN time.' 'I really wish Heads of State had a theatrical release; it absolutely deserved one. This is hands down Priyanka Chopra's best Hollywood movie and her strongest role in an English-language film. Her screen presence is unmatchable, and the way she kicks ass is downright electrifying,' said a user. Set against the backdrop of political chaos and globe-trotting danger, Heads of State marks Priyanka Chopra's return to action alongside John Cena and Idris Elba. The movie has been premiered in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
In ‘Heads of State,' the special relationship is strictly situational
On its shiny, happy surface, the action comedy 'Heads of State' is so innocuously disposable that it barely merits attention, let alone critique. Anchored by two enormously appealing stars and unfailingly faithful to the strictures of the genre, this summertime programmer — scheduled just in time to divert filmgoers after they've seen 'F1' and before 'Superman' arrives in theaters — is the kind of cheerfully banal, easy lift that feels custom-made for airplane viewing: It might as well come with its own tray table in the open, unlocked position. (Then again, it's available only on Amazon, so … same thing?)
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
John Cena Gives A Blunt Answer About Running For President
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. John Cena has made it clear that he has no plans to run for president of the United States. He gave a definitive answer when asked about a potential political career. The topic has come up as Cena plays the president in his new movie, Heads Of State. The idea of wrestlers running for office has been floated before with stars like The Rock. John Cena On A Presidential Run In a new interview with On Demand Entertainment, Cena was asked about possibly running for president. He quickly ruled out the idea. His response was brief and to the point. When presented with the idea, Cena simply said, "Not a chance." This firm answer separates Cena from other performers who have flirted with the idea of a political future. While a handful of professional wrestlers have successfully transitioned into the world of politics, the path is not a common one. The most prominent success story is Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1998, serving one full term. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: John Cena attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios "Jackpot" at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 13, 2024 in Hollywood, California. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: John Cena attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios "Jackpot" at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 13, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation More recently, Glenn "Kane" Jacobs has served as the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, since his election in 2018, proving that a major wrestling character can hold public office. Others have tried, with former WWE CEO Linda McMahon making two expensive but unsuccessful runs for a U.S. Senate seat before serving as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. While Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been the subject of serious polling and discussion for a potential presidential run, he has never officially entered a race. Cena stars alongside Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the action-comedy Heads of State, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on July 2, 2025. The film, directed by Nobody's Ilya Naishuller, features a plot reminiscent of classic buddy-action movies. Cena plays Will Derringer, a former action movie star who has become the President of the United States. He and the British Prime Minister, Sam Clarke (Elba), have a public rivalry but are forced to go on the run together after a conspiracy leaves them stranded and hunted. They must rely on each other and a brilliant MI6 agent (Chopra Jonas) to survive and unravel a plot that threatens the entire world. The movie blends high-octane action with the comedic chemistry between the two leads. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
